Combined stretcher and body-carrier.



J. BIZON.

COMBINED STEETGHER AND BODY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBET l.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTC-LITHQ, \VASHINGION, D c.

J. BIZON.

COMBINED STBETOHER AND BODY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE NOPRIS PETER: c0 FHOTO-L/THG WAEHINGTON. 0. C.

JOHN BIZON, 0F BRETZ, WEST VIRGINIA.

COMBINED STRETCI-IER AND BODY-CABRIER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. to, 1915.

Application filed June 22, 1914. Serial No. 846,523.

ject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary,

residing at Bretz, in the county of Preston and State of Vest Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Stretchersand Body-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incombined stretchers and body carriers.

An object of the invention is to provide a body support in the form of astretcher that may be used to convey the body of an injured soldier orother person, and employing a body harness that may be easily andquickly attached to the body of the carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stretcher composed offoldable hinged sections that may be caused to assume a chair positionso that the body will rest upright while the legs will be directeddownwardly.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention and to whichreference is had wherein by likecharacters designating corresponding parts throughout the several views:Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a rearelevational view of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevational viewof a portion of the device showing in detail the clasp for holding thehinged outer end of the device in horizontal position. Fig. 4 is adetail sectional view of a portion of the device illustrating the sideguard plate and the position assumed y the same in dotted lines. F ig. 5is a de tail sectional view of the leg and brace connection, and Fig. 6is a detail sectional view, illustrating the preferred method ofattaching the ends of the straps to the frame.

Briefly described, the invention embodies in a single structure, acombined stretcherand body carrier and comprises a frame formed offoldable hinged sections employing a body harness that may be easily andquickly attached to the body of the carrier and be supported on thecarriers back. Suitable leg supports and leg braces are provided so thatthe same may be caused to assume a chair-like position as shown inFig. 1. For purposes of shipping and storing the device, the same may befolded to assume a minimum of space, it being thought unnecessary toshow the device in such folded position as the several hingedconnections are believed to render the same readily apparent. 7

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, the referencenumeral 10 designates the main side rails having hinged thereto as at 11the forward extension side rails 12, similar hinge connections 13carried by the rear ends of the side rails 10 constituting a connectionwith the rear or back side rails 14. The several sections constitutingthe side rails are connected by the back supports 15, the bottom support16 and the front slatted supports 17.

Means are provided to cause the forward hinged sections 12 to assume analined horizontal position with the main side rails 10 and comprises indetail a sheet metal resilient fastening strip 18 secured as at 19 tothe forward ends of the side rails 10 and having the intermediateportion thereof upwardly curved as at 20 and with the forward endoverlying the forward side rails 12. The outer ends of the members 18are slotted as at 21 and receive in said slots the heads 22 ofcomplemental fastening bolts 23, the closed outer end of the slot asshown in Fig. 3 adapted to be seated under the head 22 of the said boltand hold the said sections in alined horizontal position as shown inFig. 3. To support the outer ends of the forward extensions 12 when inhorizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a pair of legs 24 witha cross-brace 25 and hinged as at 26 to the said forward rails, theparticular shape of the upper ends of the legs 24 adapted to limit theforward movement of the said legs as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The main side rails 10 are supported at their rear ends by the legs 27hinged to the said main rails in a manner similar to the forward legs24. The contacting faces of the main side rails and the back side railsare of such shape as to limit the reclining movement of the rearsection, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the rear section being furthersupported by the brace rods 28 comprising a cross-brace arm 29 andhinged at their upper ends as at 30 to the rear face of the back support15. The connection be tween the lower ends of thebraceirods. 28.

and the rear supporting legs 27' is clearly shown in Fig. 5 andCOIISlStSzOf acollar 31 preferably formed of thin sheet metal to bereceived on the lower end of the rod2S and provided with a. resilientextension 32 having the hooked end 33 received inthe cutout portion 34provided in the lower ends ofthe legs 27 and in such position, engagingthe inner face of a sleeve member 351's.- ceived on the lower end of theleg 27. In thisposition the lower end ofthe rod 28 is also received inthe recess 3%- and is pre vented from being removed by the hook 33,it;being necessary to operatethe spring arm 32to release the hook fromthe sleeve 35 so that the said end of the leg may be released. Whenthedevice is to beused: as a carrier or for conveying a body on theback: of a person, I preferably provide on one side of the device andhinged to one of the front sideextensionrails and one ofthe backsideextension rails, body guards 36, such" hinged connection comprising;angle plates. 37 suitably-positioned about the side rails as-shown inFig. 4 and having one end thereof as at 38 securedlto the-pin 39 formedon the body guardBG. Each'of thebody guards carries a stop lock 10 onits outer facewhich limits the'same in its unfolded position, the lowerend of. the guard adapted" to. engage the side rails asshown in- Figs. 1and 1". In order to hold the device the desired distance'from the bodyof'the carrier and to provide a body,- engaging support, I provide ablock 11 having a suitably curved face for engagement with the body ofthe carrier; The harness for attachment to the body of the carrier andconnected to; the of straps 42, crossed as at'4e3 and having oneendl'ooped'. about a ring 44-. carried by a U- shaped clamp member 1-5secured to the side rails, such construction being clearly shown in Fig.6. The other end of the-crossed strap is secured by an eye connection 46to the strap 47' carried by. similarclamp, members e5 on the side, rails1'0and 14. The opposite ends of the crossedstraps are, looped to providean adjustment and carry at, the outer ends thereof, hooks 18- adapted tobe receivedin eyes 49 carried by straps 50' secured by similar clampmembers 455 to the opposite side rails of the device. 0n the rear faceof the back supports 15, I have illustrated additional strap supports 51that may be utilized with an additional strap harness when; it is,desired to support the back of the stretcher or carrier on theback of aperson".

In operation, when the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1,,theresilient sheet 'metal fastening members 18 will hold the forwardextensions Copies ot this" patent may: be obtained for frame consistsofa pair 12 in horizontalposition five cents each,

andprevent the, collapse of the same, while the forward end of thedevice is supported on the front. legs 251, the main section 10 beingsupported on the rear the back 15 is braced by the rods-28 engaging thelower ends of the legs'27' such engagement constituting a lock asclearly shown in Fig. 5. When it is desired to fold the same forpurposes of shipment or storage, the spring extension 32 on the collar31 is engaged by the finger and thehooked'end 3-3 is released-from thecollar 35 which will permit the brace rods 28 to swing on their hinges30 while the back sectionleswings on the hinges 13 to assume a positionjuxtaposed to the main section 10. Pressure on theraisedintermediateportion 20 of the fastening members 18 will" releasethe forward ends of the said fastening members fronrthe heads 22 of thebolts 23 to thereby permit the forward extensions 12 with the legs 2stswung to a position adjacent the same to lie in contact with the mainsectionIO by swinging on their hinges 11. In such position, the bodyguards 36 assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.

When the device is'to be usedas acarrier, the straps 1-2 constitutingthe body harness are secured to the body of the carrier in whichposition the block 11 engages'the back of the person and holds thedevice in spaced relation so that the body movements arenot hindered.

While I haveherein shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to confine myself to the exact details ofconstruction shown as various forms modifications and arran ement of theparts as shown maybe had without de partingfrom the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1'- Ina device of the class described, a-

folding side bars and rear supporting legs and brace rods, eachsupporting leghaving a recess therein: adjacent the lower end, asleevemounted: on the lower end of each leg with: an opening therein adaptedtoregister with the legrecess, a, collar'mounted on each bracerod', and.resilient hooked arm projecting downwardly and outwardly from said?collan and rod,

frame embodying said rod end and hooked arm adapted to be receivedinsaid leg recess with the hooked arm engaging said sleeve to hold the rodand leg; in locked condition and prevent accidental displacement.

In testimony whereof I a fiixzmy signature in presence of two witnesses;

' JOHN BIZON NVitnesses;

Jenn Gwoznzmwicz, Jonwlirson.

by; addressing the Gpmmissionen 0L. new,

Washington, D. 0."

legs 27 while

